Five elements of a killer infographic

Jess Messenger

Blog

Today, people are inundated with information, much of which goes unseen or simply in one ear and out the other. Not surprisingly, many brands are looking to create their own images to bring their messages to life and grab the attention of customers and prospects. One way to do this is through infographics. By combining eye-catching visuals and text, infographics make complex information and data more digestible and shareable.

So how can you design the best infographic? Read below for the key elements to include in your next project:

1 Clear purpose and focus

The best infographics tell a compelling short story about one topic, rather than trying to cram chapters of information into one design. Streamline the focus of the infographic and use a catchy title so that your target audience can easily digest, share and discuss the content. Consider creating a series of infographics that complement one another if you have too much information for one piece.

2 Clean design

Clean design draws readers in and allows them to easily follow the flow of the infographic. There are several elements that ensure a clean design: color, text and visuals. First, define your color palette, which may consist of various shades from your branding guidelines or hues that will help evoke the message of the infographic. Use an easy-to-read font in an appropriate size so that readers aren’t put off by your text. Finally, use fun visuals like icons, charts and sketches that bring the information and statistics to life.

3 Visuals

Visuals are key to an infographic, yet sometimes the end result is too much text and not enough graphics. You don’t have to create a visual for each line of text, but it’s important to pull out key statistics and bring them to life with larger font, illustrations or graphs. Make sure your visuals are cohesive. For example, if the style is more cartoonish and playful, stick with that throughout the entire infographic.

4 Engaging information & data

Your infographic should highlight recent and relevant information and data that surprises and engages your readers. Avoid data that may be too complex to fully digest in infographic format. Consider framing the information in a way that makes it easy for readers to visualize it, such as “1 in 4 Americans do not recycle” or “Every 20 minutes a house fire occurs.”

5 Reputable sources

An infographic shouldn’t be an opinion piece. Instead, it should outline key facts and figures. Consider conducting a survey, such as a Harris Poll, to gather new and reputable data to support your infographic. Then combine these insights with information from nationally and globally recognized organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control, the World Wildlife Fund and the Institute for Food Safety and Health, depending on the topic of your infographic. Include citations at the bottom of the infographic so that it is easy for readers to see your sources and further explore the issue at hand.

When properly designed, infographics are a great tool for communicating information. This is because they put facts and data into a digestible format that is both educational and unique. By following the above tips, you can more easily encourage your target audience to share your killer infographic.